15:30 York

Thursday 18 May 2017

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:3517:0517:35

Betfred Dante Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 2m 8.40s

(8)

Benbatl²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P Cosgrave| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 106

4/1

Didn't race as a juvenile but hit the ground running with a 7f debut success at Doncaster last month. Raced keenly when third in the Craven Stakes last time and this further step up in trip looks positive. Hasn't yet achieved a level that would be good enough to win this, but no reason why he can't improve. Unlikely to mind any rain.

Form: 13

(11)

Contrapposto²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fortune| T: D Menuisier| OR: 99

25/1

Took a while to get going last season but landed a Nottingham maiden (1m½f, good to soft) in October and was then well beaten in the Racing Post Trophy. One place and 2L behind Benbatl in the Craven Stakes and looks up against it at this level.

Form: 5219-4

(2)

Crystal Ocean²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 89| D

8/1

Beaten favourite on his Newbury debut in September (7f, good to soft) before returning with an eased-down 2L maiden win at Nottingham (1m2f, good to firm) last time. Holds entries for the Derby and its Irish equivalent and now needs to earn his place in either with an improved effort here. Not difficult to see him doing that.

Form: 2-1

(3)

Exemplar^t²³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110

6/1

Another beaten favourite on debut but righted that the next time in a Galway maiden (1m½f, soft). Already been placed in this grade and now reappears with the welcome news that there has been rain at the venue recently, which will help. 33/1 for the Derby itself but will need to improve again today and yard has more serious contenders.

Form: 213-

(9)

Forest Ranger³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 106

8/1

Beaten in Listed company last season, which may have been the soft ground as much as the company and returned by taking the scalp of the reopposing Syphax off level weights at Newcastle last month when he had 2¾L to spare at the line. Runner-up may have needed that more and he needs to up his game again to figure today.

Form: 13-1

(7)

Permian¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 106| D

10/1

Fast ground so far looks to be the key to his best performances and he is not going to get that here. Nonethless, he doesn't have much to find with Cracksman on a literal interpretation of their Epsom form last month and has since won decisively in Listed company. A bit more exposed than some, but could go well at a price.

Form: 153-321

(1)

Rekindling⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 96| D

9/2

Won a Gowran Park maiden last year but last of 13 when tried in a French Group One on his last start of the season. Returned with a Group Three win at Leopardstown last month and the second, third and fourth franked that form next time in another similar race. Steps back up in grade and will know more today. 16/1 for Derby and interesting.

Form: 210-1

(10)

Swiss Storm²⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 89

16/1

Another son of Frankel who won a Newbury maiden on his second and most recent start (7f, good to soft) last season and is closely related to an All Weather winner over 1m4f, though much of his pedigree is about speed. Has it to prove over this trip. Entered in both the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes rather than the Derby.

Form: 71-

(6)

Syphax³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: K A Ryan| OR: 110| C

12/1

Currently trading at 66/1 for the Blue Riband but trainer speaks highly of him. Won last year's Group Three Acomb here (7f, good to firm) and after a slow start he also looked like he would benefit from his return run at Newcastle. Might be more improvement in him than his conqueror there, step up in trip is a positive and he has claims.

Form: 11-2

(4)

Wolf Country¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 99

6/1

Finished last season with a Yarmouth maiden win (1m, good to soft) and returned from France earlier this month as a Listed winner (1m4f, good to soft). Clearly an improving profile and his proven stamina may well be a positive now dropped slightly in trip.

Form: 61-1

Non-Runners

(5)

Cracksman²²

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: J & T Gosden J: L Dettori

Forecasts

Cracksman (11/4), Benbatl (4/1), Rekindling (9/2), Wolf Country (6/1), Exemplar (6/1), Crystal Ocean (8/1), Forest Ranger (8/1), Permian (10/1), Syphax (12/1), Swiss Storm (16/1), Contrapposto (25/1)

Cracksman and Crystal Ocean are all the rage for this event and it is not difficult to see why, given that their trainers have both both enjoyed multiple wins in the race and they have horses who come under the 'could be anything' tag. The former posed his intent with a last-gasp Epsom win and has a strong case today, while the latter won easily at Nottingham and steps into this company for the first time. Both will take some toppling, along with Rekindling, who looks the better of the Irish pair. However, SYPHAX is likely to be overpriced here, largely down to his defeat on his reappearance. He could come on plenty for that plus this step up in trip and his trainer also knows what it takes to win this. He can be backed each-way with some confidence that he will outperform his odds.